Folding umbrella.



C. A. HART.

v FOLDING UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 7, 1914.

Patented Apr 18, 1916.

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C. A. HART.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2, 1914.

Patented Apr, 18, 1916.

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THB COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co..' WASHINGTON, D. c.

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CHARLES A. HART, 0F FINDLAY, OHIO.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

Application filed November 7, 1914.

To all whom it man concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. HART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Findlay, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Folding Umbrellas, of.

sential features of this. construction and the main objects in view on this account are to improve those elements which, have in such prior articles been subject to breakage and lacking in positiveness of action in the folding operation, as well as to also simplify the structure to cheapen its manufacture while eliminating the former drawbacks toward successful operation.

To this end the umbrella comprises a sectional stick having locking members for holding the sections extended and also seetional ribs similarly provided with locking elements, the latter having special means adapted to coact therewith to normally prevent their accidental disengagement and consequent telescoping of the ribs when the umbrella is in extended and lowered position, while insuring positive unlatching when it is desired to fold the device into its compact form, said means being carried by the spreader braces. In addition, the stick sections have cotiperating locking members, that carried by the tip section performing the dual function of holding the tip in place as well as maintaining the rod extended, said sections being automatically disengagedsuccessively upon release of the tip section.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the novel con" struction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and claimed.

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of an umbrella embodying the invention, the cover being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a view of the um- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18,1916.

Serial No. 870,875.

brella in folded form; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 33 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the runner in engagement with the upper runner catch, parts belng broken away and in section to show more clearly the cooperating elements; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the umbrella stick with sections extended and a rib member in elevation connected thereto; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the joint portion of oneof the ribs in the normal position with the rib held,

away from the spreader braces; Fig. 7, is a similar view to Fig. 6 showing more clearly the action of the yieldable spring carried by the spreader brace in disengaging the rib locking catch; Fig. 8 is avertical section; on line 8-8 of Fig. 6. Figs; 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are each horizontal sections taken on the respective lines 99, 10-10, 1111, 1212, 13,13 and 14-44 of Fig. 6; Fig. 15. is an enlarged sectional view showing the relative position of the tip section, its. adj acent section and the locking element for holding the last mentioned section in: extended position; Fig. 16 is a similar view of the next succeeding section held in extended position; Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 but showing the locking catch disengaged by the tip section; Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view on. the line 1 8-18 of Fig.15; and Fig. 19 is a detail perspective view of one of the locking springs of. the stick sections.

Throughout the following detail description, and on the. several figures of the drawings, similar parts are referred to by like reference characters.

Specifically describing the device, the umbrella comprising the essential features of this invention consists of a stick A comprising a plurality of sections, preferably four, as illustrated in the drawings, including the handle section 1, its adj acent section 2, the tip section 3, and. its adjacent lower section. 4., all adapted, to telescope into the handle section 1 just mentioned. The stick A has pivotally connected thereto telescoping rib members designated B, each rib comprising the upper member 5 and the lower member 6 arranged for sliding into the upper rib member 5 as will. be hereinafter more clearly set forth. The ribs 13 are provided with the usual cover C and held extended by spreader braces D which are connected at one end to a runner Eof special construction, and at their other end to the lower section of the ribs, as will also be more clearly set forth as this description proceeds.

Specifically describing the construction of the ribs, it will be observed by reference to the drawings that the upper member of each rib terminates at its lower end in an integral plate 5 having ears 5 which are bent about the lower rib member 6 to provide interlocking connection of these parts. The upper end of the lower rib member 6 has fixedly secured thereto a sleeve 6 the material of which at its under side, as indicated at 6 is depressed or bent into the grooved body of the rib member thereby providing guide means which will be hereinafter referred to. The sleeve 6 has also formed thereon spaced ears 6 shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 7 to which the cooperating spreader brace is hingedly con: nected. Adjacent to the sleeve 6 the lower rib section 6 has secured thereto a spring catch 7 projecting away from the under side of the member toward the adjacent spreader brace, this catch having its body portion notched as indicated at 8, in which notched portion the interlocking ears 5" on the upper rib member engage to hold the rib in extended position. It will be apparent that as the lower rib member 6 is slid out of the .spreader brace D has secured thereto a yieldable part 9 consisting of a spring, the shank of which is soldered to the inside of the spreader brace adjacent its hinged connection, this portion reinforcing the upper end of the brace which is subjected to considerable strain in use and the free end of the spring is bent back upon itself so as to project away from the brace toward the rib. The function of this spring is to normally hold the rib away from its adjacent brace when the umbrella is in extended position but closed as when it is used for a walking stick. This separation of'the parts prevents the unauthorized or accidental disengagement of the catch 7 which would result in the telescoping of the rib members. When, however, it is desired to collapse the um brella it is only necessary to grasp the ribs I at their free "extremities and by pressing in wardly toward the stick the springs 9 are brought into contact with the projecting end of its associated rib catch 7 disengaging said catch and allowing the rib members to relatively slide together. In this action the free end of the spring first comes into contact with the groove 6 of the sleeve 6 and it is therefore guided in its relative sliding movement along the groove to insure positive engagement of said spring with its coacting rib latch. This is a very essential feature of the device since in prior constructions the unlatching of the rib sections to enable their folding movement has been more or less unsatisfactory and troublesome in that they either accidentally disengage when not desired, or when operated some of the locking members do not free the sections properly and cause damage to the cover.

Specifically describing the stick construction, it will be observed that the handle section thereof is the larger and each successive section smaller to enable the telescoping of said sections one into the other. The tip section 3 is provided adjacent its upper extremity and interiorly thereof with a spring 10 secured at one end to the interior wall and projecting at its other end through a slot in the section. This spring forms a main locking catch in which the head or button 11 fixedly secured to the upper extremity of the adjacent stick section t is adapted to engage and controls the collapsing or telescoping of the stick sections. The latch has a shoulder 10 which constitutes an abutment for the head 11 to limit the movement of the section in a longitudinal direction of the stick while provided also with a spaced shoulder 10 which coacts with. the under side of the button 11 to prevent the displacement of the tip section from its cooperating stick section, the shoulder 10 extending through a suitable slot in section 4: as noted particularly by reference to Fig. 5. The tip section 3 has further secured therein near its lower end a second catch 12 the free end of which is adapted to project through a slot 12 on this section and also through the slot 12 in the surrounding section at when these two Sections are in proper extended position, at which time the two slots 12 and 12" register. The catch 12 constitutes the upper locking member for the runner E.

In Figs. 15 it will he noted that the stick section 2 has secured to its upper portion exteriorly thereof a spring catch 13 the end of which is adapted to project inwardly through a slot in the section into a slot adjacent the lower extremity of the superposed stick section l when the rod is in extended position. In like manner the handle section 1 has also secured adjacent its upper end a similar catch 14 to engage with the lower end portion of the section 2. As will be observed by reference to Figs. 15, 1G and 17, the engaging extremities of the auxiliary catches 13 and 14 are beveled and the purpose in mind in so forming these extremities is to enable them to be automatically disengaged when the extremity of its cooperating upper stick section moves downwardly into telescoped position in a. manner obvious to those skilled in the art to: which this invention refers. Thus in Fig. 15 the tip section 3 when unlocked or disengaged from the catch 10 will move against the end of the spring 13 and allow it to be further disengaged from the extremity of the section 4, said last mentioned section in: like manner disengaging the spring catch 14: and thereby freeing the stick section 2. The telescoping action therefore depends upon the disengagement of the tip section 3 from its locking member whereupon the remaining folding of the apparatus is automatic, assuming, of course, that simultaneously with the disengagement of the member 10 the ribs (3 are moved inwardly so as to free the rib members for telescoping action at the same time.

The construction of the runner E is best disclosed in Fig 4 and consists of an inner sleeve 15 which is somewhat larger than the stick sections on which it slides and has fixedly secured to its upper end the notched head 16 to which the lower ends of the spreader braces D are pivotally connected. The sleeve 15 has an opening or slot 15 in which the upper runner catch is adapted to engage to hold the runner at its uppermost position with the umbrella open or raised, while a lower slot 15" is formed therein for engagement with the lower runner catch 17. The inner sleeve is surrounded by an outer movable sleeve 18 formed at its upper end with a beveled flange 18 between which and the head 16 is interposed a spring 19 for holding the outer sleeve 18 at its lowermost position. The said sleeve is spun in a groove 18 which engages with the belled extremity of the inner sleeve to prevent displacement therefrom. The beveled flange 18 is adapted to assist in the automatic disengagement of the runner latch when the same is pulled downwardly in an obvious manner.

One of the main features of the spring catches 18 and 14: is the provision of a clover-leaf shaped extremity by means of which they are secured or fixed to their respective stick sections, this special construction preventing breaking off of the springs as is commonly the case with similar locking members of previous constructions. It will be noted also from Fig. 3 that the stick is preferably somewhat rectangular in shape so as to prevent likelihood of relative rotation of the stick sections.

A device constructed in accordance with the foregoing description enables the collapsing or folding of the umbrella into compact form of substantially one-third the size or length of the structure when extended.

The compactness afiiords the usual advantages inherent in articles of this character.

Having in view the foregoing, it is to be understood that generally speaking there are three conditions of service of folding umbrellas of the class of this invention. In the first place, the umbrella is used in extended position as a shade or covering in the ordinary manner, and secondly it is carried when down as a walking stick. Thirdly, it is collapsed or folded to assume knock-down condition. It is characteristic of this invention, and I believe this particular construction to be new, that when the umbrella is down and carried in the ordinary way as a walking stick the spring members 9 act in a positive manner to prevent the unlocking of the rib sections by which the latter would be permitted to collapse. The function performed by the members 9 as above described is entirely separate from their additional function incident to constituting actuating members for thecatches 8 when an abnormal pressure is exerted against the ribs to force the same toward the stick, a necessary preliminary to the collapsing operation. Under these conditions it may be properly said that the ribs of my umbrella assume a normal position when the umbrella is down and so held by the runner E, such that the umbrella may be readily used as a walking stick. Said ribs, however, are susceptible of abnormal movement as above described to assume an abnormal position close to the stick preliminary to collapsing the ribs and indeed when the whole umbrella has been collapsed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A folding umbrella comprising a stick, sectional rib members, locking means intermediate the rib sections for holding the ribs extended, brace means, and a yieldable part carried by the brace means normally holding said rib members spaced from the stick when the umbrella is closed to prevent accidental disengagement of the locking means, said part eoacting with the locking means upon movement of the rib members toward the stick for collapsing purposes to disengage the locking means.

2. A folding umbrella comprising a stick, sectional rib members, locking means to hold the rib sections extended, spreaders connecting the ribs with the stick, and spring means intermediate the Spreaders and the rib sections adapted to hold the ribs apart from the Spreaders, said spring means constituting actuating means for the rib locking means, whereby to disengage the latter to enable collapsing of the umbrella.

3. A folding umbrella comprising a stick, rib members composed of sections, locking members for b ding h sections of the rib members extended, spreaders intermediate the stick and the rib members, and means to hold the spreaders and rib members in predetermined normal positions when the umbrella is down to permit of use of the umbrella as a walking stick, said last mentioned means being operable by abnormal movement of the rib members toward the stick to thereby cooperate with the locking catches to release the rib sections for collapsing movement.

4. A folding umbrella comprising a stick, sectional rib members, locking means intermediate the rib sections for holding the ribs extended, brace means, a yieldable part normally holding said rib members apart from the braces to prevent accidental disengagement of the locking means, when the umbrella is closed, said part coacting with the locking means upon movement of the rib members toward the stick for collapsing purposes to disengage the locking means, guide means with which the yieldable part eoacts to insure positive engagement of said part with the locking means aforesaid, and spreader braces connecting the ribs with the stick and on which the yieldable parts are carried, the guide means aforesaid constituting the interlocking connections between the spreader braces and the rib.

5. A folding umbrella comprising a stick, a runner thereon, ribs pivotally connected with the stick and consisting of upper and lower slidable sections, a catch on each lower section for holding the sections extended, spreader braces connected at one end to the runner, grooved guide sleeves carried by the lower rib sections for guiding the sliding action of the rib sections and to which the braces are hingedly connected at their other ends, and spring fingers secured to the braces adjacent to the catches, the free ends of which fingers coaet with the ribs to hold said ribs apart from the braces when the umbrella is closed, said springs being guided by and having sliding contact with the sleeves aforesaid for positive engagement thereof with the catches to release the same.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. HART.

Witnesses CHARLES A. STOCKTON, J. A. KIMMELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

